Barrel



A. B. BELL July 7, 1936.

BARREL Filed Au 51, 195:5

l INVENTOR:

fllfmw lily/LL, BY W WTORNEYS.

zoj 1M WITNL SES: %& 6 MM Patented July 7, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BARREL Alfred B. Bell, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application August 31, 1933, Serial No. 687,597

9 Claims.

This invention relates to barrels; and it is concerned more particularly with barrels intended to be used for beer and like beverages.

In the past, beer barrels were made of wood and fashioned to truncate oval configuration so as to be rollable onto and off of delivery trucks, as well as capable of being stacked upright one above another. While sturdy, such barrels were bulky and heavy and accordingly diflicult to handle.

The chief aim of my invention is to provide a barrel constructed from sheet metal which embodies all the desirable characteristics of the usual wooden type beer barrel but which is much lighter in weight and therefore correspondingly easier to manipulate.

Another object of my invention is to secure the above advantages in a sheet metal barrel having a continuous hollow between outer and inner shells for the purposes of thermo-insulation, and crosswise reinforcing means within the hollow to effectively brace the barrel crosswise and to insure against relative lateral or endwise displacement between said outer and inner shells incident to hard usage of the barrel.

A further aim of my invention is to provide effective cushioning of the barrel heads for capacity to better withstand shocks attendant upon knocking or dropping of the barrel on the circumferential edges of the heads.

Another object of my invention is to prevent contact of the barrel contents with anything which would. be likely to cause its deterioration, particularly with the welding or soldering metals used in forming fluid tight junctures at the seams between the different metallic parts which enter into the construction of the barrel.

Still other objectsand-attendant advantages of this invention will be manifest from the detailed description which follows of the accompanying drawing; wherein Fig. I is a view, partly in side elevation and partly in axial section, of a beverage barrel embodying the present improvements.

Fig. II shows the top end of the barrel.

Fig. III is a detail section taken as indicated by the arrows III-'-III in Fig. I and drawn to a somewhat larger scale.

Fig. IV is a fragmentary view of one of the internal reinforcing elements of the barrel likewise drawn to a larger scale; and,

Fig. V is a fragmentary sectional view showing an alternative form of scam construction which may be resorted to in joining certain component parts of the barrel.

From Fig. I it will be observed that my improved barrel has the generally truncate oval configuration characteristic of the ordinary wooden type of beer barrel; that is to say, it has an outwardly rounded side wall, and recessed 5 ends. As shown, the barrel comprises an outer body shell ill of stout sheet metal and an inner shell I l of lighter gage sheet metal, the two being spaced apart at the side of the barrel as at l2,

as well as at the ends thereof as at I3, M with 10 formation of a continuous spacial interval all around. The outer shell I0 is composed of two drawn counterpart dished sections or components Illa, [Ob which respectively'aiford halves of the outer side wall, and the top and bottom, head 15 walls of the barrel. The peripheral rim edges of the components I (la, lb of the outer shell II] are oppositely beveled and meet at l5 (Figs. 1 and III) in the transverse medial plane of the barrel where they are permanently connected by weld metal filling the circumferential crevice jointly afiorded by the bevels aforesaid. The seam I5 thus provided is strong and rigid as well as fluid tight. -At equal distances from the are extended as at l8 for telescopic fitment over the ends of the shell l0, while inwardly turned marginal portions i 9 of their interior flanges abut against the fiat annular marginal portions 20 of the head walls of the outer shell components [0a and lb, the center portion of said walls being outwardly rounded as at 2| for increased strength. The flat marginal portions 20 of the barrel heads may be used for the application of advertising matter if desired. When placed, the rings II project axially beyond the head walls of the barrel thereby protecting them and at the same time provide hand grip edges. The head rings l1 are permanently secured to the outer shell 10 of the barrel by welding as conventionally indicated at 22 and 23.

Like the outer shell ID, the inner shell ll of the barrel comprises two similarly dished components or sections which are respectively designated by the reference characters H0, and llb in Figs. I

and III. The component I la is somewhat longer than the component II?) with attendant disposal of the juncture 24 between their opposing rim edges to one side of the transverse medial plane of the barrel for a reason which will appear later. The meeting rim edges of the sections I la, I lb of the inner shell I I are in this instance formed with oppositely flaring outward flanges 25a and 25b which jointly form .a circumferential trough externally of the inner shell II to receive welding metal 26 for the formation of a fluid tight juncture. A joint constructed as just explained is :advantageous in that the contents of the barrel are prevented from coming into contact with the weld metal and from being contaminated thereby. By constructing the inner shell as described, it is possible to coat the interior of the components I la, I Ibwith proper protective materials before they are welded together, thus keeping the same clean.- It is only necessary then to finish the joint at the weld and completely coat the interior with special pitch. The head ends of the inner shell II are conformative with the curvature of the outwardly rounded portions 2I of the outer shell III. The inner shell I I, it will moreover be noted, is diametrically reduced at its opposite ends with attendant formation of annular sigmoidal-section shoulders 21, sharp corners being avoided as a consequence of the liberal rounding of said v shell at the regions of the shoulders as clearly shown in Fig. I.

Disposed within the side wall hollow of the barrel is a pair of reinforcing bilge rings 28 which are fashioned to channel cross sectional configuration from sheet metal preferably of the same gage as that used for the outer body shell I0, said rings being so proportioned as to snugly fit the recesses occasioned by the circumferential ofisetting of the outer shell II) at I6 and being secured to the shell by welding at 29. In each of the reinforcing rings 28 the outermost side flange is extended inwardly and rounded as at 30 to fit over the corresponding shoulder 21 of the inner shell II. The other side flange of each reinforcing ring 28 is bent laterally as .at 3| into paral- I lelism with the side wall of the inner shell II. Preferably, I interpose between the inner shell II and the reinforcing rings 28, gaskets 32 of relatively heavy sheet insulation such for example as heavy paper to preclude thermal transfer between the inner shell and the outer shell I0 so that the barrel contents is protected from extraneous temperature influences. As a consequence of being recessed in the circumferential offsets I6 of the outer shell III on the one hand,'and of engaging over the shouldered ends 21 of the inner shell II on the other hand, the rings 28 operate as an effective means to rigidly hold said'inner shell against both axial and lateral displacement relative'to the outer shell, as well as a means for crosswise reinforcing the barrel as a whole. For protection of the barrel at its ends shock absorbing cushioning insulation blocks or discs 33 and mate contact throughout its area with the outer shell I0, while its side flanges are bent oppositely outward as at 31 into parallel relation with the side of the inner shell I I, see Fig. III. From Fig. I it will be noted that one of the insulating gaskets 32 is considerably longer than the other in the direction of the length of the barrel and reaches beneath the central bilge ring 35 to prevent thermal transfer between the internal and external parts of the barrel at this region. At

a point in its circumference, the central reinforcing ring 35 is laterally expanded as at 38 in Fig. IV to receive a side bung hole annulus 39 which is diametrically reduced and shouldered at its ends for capacity to engage in aligned apertures respectively in the ring 35 and the outer shell I0, and in the inner shell, with formation of flush joints which are rendered fluid tight by welding at 40 and M in Fig. I, the weld 4I being externally of the inner shell and the annulus and therefore out of reach of the barrel contents.

At its top end the barrel is provided with a central tap hole fitting 42 which has an axial aperture for passage of a draw-off pipe such as indicated in dot-and-dash lines at 43 in Fig. I.

This tap hole fitting 42 is engaged between the outer and inner shell of the barrel and shouldered circumferentially in its opposite ends for lapping engagement by marginal portions of aligned apertures in the said outer and inner shells. Here again, welding is restorted to as at 44 and 45 to form fluid tight junctures at the regions of mutual contact of the parts. As a consequence of the outward rounding of the head walls of the inner shell II, the barrel can obviously be completely drained of its contents either by pouring through the end tap hole fitting 42 or by aid of the drawoff pipe 43.

When ordinary sheet steel is used inthe construction of the inner shell I I I preferably apply to the inside of the latter a coating of pitch or the like after the manner practiced heretofore with wooden barrels. less steel may be used for the inner shell II in which case I form the juncture between its components as shown in Fig. V from which it will be seen that an outwardly turned flange 46 of the shell component III) is engaged in a retrovert flange 41 of the shell component Ila, and the joint sealed by welding or soldering at 48 at a circumferential corner crevice between said flanges externally of the shell.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a barrel which embodies all the desirable features of the usual type of wooden beer barrel, and which though light in weight is strong and sturdy by virtue of its internal bracing and end cushioning, to withstand the most severe handling in practice without yielding to distortion or rupture. It can moreover be very eco nomically manfactured by reason of the novel construction of its component parts which favors their easy and rapid assembling into a unit which is fluid tight and devoid of any internal crevices wherein bacteria might collect to spoil the barrel contents or affect its taste or flavor.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A sheet metal barrel comprising coaxial inner and outer shells, said inner shell consisting of two truncate unitary-components welded together along the peripheral edges, each component embodying a diametric reduction to provide an annular shoulder and having an outwardly-rounded end; said outer shell also including two similarly-united counterpart truncate unitary-components each embodying outwardly-olfset circumferential bands and having an outwardly-rounded central end area conformative with the associated inner shell end; and reinforcing channel-section bilge rings intermediate said shellswith their web portions engaged in the outwardly-offset bands aforesaid However, if desired, stain-- and their outer and inner flanges respectively coacting with the inner shell annular shoulders and said shell side wall to positively hold the shells against relative axial and lateral displacement.

2. A sheet metal barrel comprising coaxial inner and outer shells, the inner shell consisting of two truncate-components of different axial depth and peripherally welded together to one side of the transverse medial plane of the barrel, each said component embodying a diametric reduction, to provide an annular sigmoidal-section shoulder, and also having an outwardlyrounded end; said outer shell including two counterpart truncate-components similarly-united in the medial plane of the barrel, each said com ponent embodying an outwardly-offset hoop-like band and also having an outwardly-rounded central end area with a surrounding flat annular portion; and reinforcing channel-section bilge rings intermediate the shells with their web portions fitting into the hoop-like bands aforesaid, said bilge rings having their outer flanges rounded for coaction with the inner shell sigmoidal shoulders and their inner flanges laterally bent for coaction with said inner shell side wall, whereby the barrel as a whole is positively braced against axial and lateral distortion.

3. A sheet metal barrel comprising coaxial inner and outer shells, the inner shell consisting of two hollow-truncate unitary-components of different depth and peripherally welded together to one side of the transverse medial plane of the barrel, each said component embodying an annular sigmoidal-section circumferentially shouldered portion and an outwardly-rounded head end; said outer shell including two counterpart hollow-truncate unitary-components similarly united in the medial plane of the barrel, each said component embodying an outwardly-oifset hoop-like band and an outwardly-rounded head end area, conformative with the inner shell corresponding section, with a surrounding flat annular portion; reinforcing channel-section bilge rings intermediate the shells with their web portions fitting in and permanently-united to the outer shell hoop-like bands, said bilge rings having their outer flanges rounded for coaction with the inner shell sigmoidal shoulderings and their inner flanges laterally bent for coaction with said inner shell side wall; and a central channel section bilge ring, having its web curved for intimate contact with the outer shell and its flanges bent oppositely outwards for coaction with the inner shell.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein the barrel ends have shock-absorbing insulation-blocks interposed between the inner and outer shells, said blocks extending circumferentially partway inwards into the side hollow of the barrel.

5. The combination of claim 3 wherein the inner shell components have outward opposedlyflaring peripheral-flanges to form a circumferential trough for reception of suitable welding metal, and the outer shell components have their peripheral rim edges oppositely beveled outwards to jointly form ,a circumferential crevice for the welding metal.

6. The combination of claim 3 wherein the barrel ends are provided with channel-section protective head-rings, the outer circumferential flanges whereof are extended for telescopic fitment over the barrel ends, and their inner flanges are angled for intimate abutment against the outer shell end annular fiat portions.

'7. The combination of claim 3 wherein the central reinforcing bilge ring is laterally-expanded to receive a side bung-hole annulus which is diametrically-reduced and shouldered at its ends to engage in and be permanently-united to aligned apertures in said ring web and the inner and outer shells.

8. The combination of claim 3 wherein one of the barrel ends is fitted with a tap-hole fitting permanently secured between the inner and outer shell ends, said fitting being shouldered at its opposite ends for lapping engagement by marginal portions of aligned apertures in said inner and. outer shell ends.

9. The combination of claim 3 wherein one of the inner shell unitary-components is provided with an outwardly-turned peripheral flange for engagement in a retrovert flange of the other unitary-component, and the joint is sealed by welding around the circumferential corner crevice set up between the retrovert flange-peripheral edge externally of said inner shell.

ALFRED B. BELL. 

